Mold and method of making same



Jan. 29, 1935. J. Q TUTTLE 1,989,646

MOLD `ND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed oct. 21, 1952 2 sheets-sheet'2 www Patented Jan. 29, 1935 i PATENT- MoLn-AND Mannion oF MAKING ySAME John C. Tuttle, Akron, Ohio, assigner to Winn'gfootv Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation offDelaware Applicationk Octoberf'Zl, 11932, Seriali No. :638,848

' 9-Claimsf -(C l. 18;-44)

This invention pertains to molds andmethods' for. constructing` the same -and more vparticularly is" concerned with related molds of the insert type and to methods employedfintheir construetion.' 'f n It has been the practicefor years tomake molds suehas tire moldsout of-solid metal which'is machined andv thereafterengravedby suitable means toproduce Va non-skid or attractive surface conguration'upon the'molded tire or other article. In View of the fact that thetire designs are changed from time to time; it has been necessary in the past to provide entirely new 'molds inY substantially all cases. i This moldVl expense has l5 been considerable in the tire industry and 'the same adds materially to the cost ofthe molded article. l

Within the last several years the solid metal mold hasibeen replacedby'the insert type mold in which a blank or base mold member is providedt which receives surface inserts having the desired conguration formed thereon. AWith the insert type molds it has been possible to change the Vdesign or configuration produced by the f mold by merely changing the inserts. It has also, been cheaper to make'the'insert type mold whenV a large-number of moldsA arenededbecause the expense of individually engraving each vmold was. eliminated"` by dief casting the` inserts. Thus the 3l). insert type mold has provided a considerableV saving inthe industry. i

It ha'sfho'wever `been'foundxthat the best'way to make up the inserts is to form them in relativelyA short lengths which are' madeV by av die-casting operation, asstated above. lThis* die-castingoperationof course'requires heavyand expensive dies whichA materially add to the'cost ofthe mold' inserts. In the tire industry it is often found desirable to produce only a comparatively 4.0:'. small number of tires or other molded articles of-a certain size. 1 In these cases it has been found cheaper to employ solid Vmetal molds having ordinary vsurface engraving rather than resort Vtol the` expense of 'making dies to produce the inserts for: insert type molds; Again it is often necessary to produce related series'of tires of slightly diierent sizes. In this case also it is 'cheaper to employsolid metalmolds if the number of tires to be made is comparatively small. 5051* The manufacturer is thus `unable 'under/these conditions tov advantageously employ ata saving either thesolid metal mold or the insert type mold' ior'the reasons stated above.

It is` an object of the present invention to `avoid 5.5i and overcome the diiculties experienced by priorknown'types of molds and in methods of 'making the 'sameby the provision of` an' improved type mold particularly adapted to ll a want in the neldz-and toLmethodsf of rmaking the same.`

? Anothen objectief the invention iszt'o prox/idea rclatedseriesof annular molds having molding. cavitiesk of substantially the samecrossfsectionala dimensions butpf'4 diiierent beadf or overall; di-

ameters.y .Y f

Anotherobject ofsthef invention .is to provide.

an improved methodfor producing molds having molding cavities of ,relatedlbutfidiierent-dimens.

sions.

Another Yobj ect of the -inventionis to provide annular moldsgofrthe insert type in slightly different sizes inwhichginse'rts of -theisame dimen'f sions are employed.

Fig.V 1 is a planview off-:the facepof' onehalf.. of an average` or mean insert'moldrof ythe seriesembodying the invention; Fig; 2 isanenlarged cross-sectional View taken along the` line II-II of Fig. 1; ,Y

Fig'. 3 vis an enlarged fragmentary plan view sim'- ilar to Fig. 1 Yillustrating.another of the mold.

series; and

Fig. 41s a figuresmiiarjtoanig.,3 illust-ratingy another ofthe` mold seriesand the mannerin which the inserts are employed-' The invention .is4 ordinarily employed where itv is- .desired to produce agrelatedseries.: of molds This .condition is vexperienced frequently' in the tire industry'and'.,accordingly the inventi'onzhas` been described as applied toltire molds.

A number of'blank molds-of relatedorfslightly" y Y dilerent diametrical sizes, one'oi'whichis iin;.`:

dicatedY at 10 in the drawings, are made upi in which-the cross-sectional dimensions of the cavities 11 areof approximatelyftheisame dimensions The cavities 1'1- are of course formed to provide additional recessed cavities' 13,. which' in the Ablank mold 10, are.y adaptedV to receive 'inserts -.15 which may be heldin place by any suitable means, such as screws 17. It will-bennderstood 'that"the'= shape of the-cavity.' 1l" and the' recessesfland the particular type 'and shape of' the insertsl5V` may. bewidely varied without departing from the principlesof the invention. 1 i

'Although thecross-sectional dimensionsof the molding cavities ofv the" various related molds tol be made up are ordinarily substantially'thesame',v

thediametersof the mold cavities are variedboth ways from a diameter selectedv astheameanvor.

average diameter.` This will allow tires 'of sev;-A

eral diierent diameters to be manufacturedfin the related molds; .For exampla; tires having 16";.187' and' 20" `bead diameters With` the 18' bead diameter tire selected as they mean o'rrav'er.1 age, can;be producediinthe related-"moldserisfi Evenljaigreaterspreadmaybe' possible incertainl cases Inf the mold lozformingfthefmea or avert# QFFLCJE itl age diameter tire the inserts l5 are adapted to t perfectly. Thus the inserts are made up in dies formed to produce the inserts of a radius or curvature substantially the ,same as the aver-` age blank mold so that they will have the close completely contacting l'lt usually had between inserts and a. blank mold. This relation, of the inserts and mean or average blank mold is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

However, in another mold of `the related series,"

when the standard size inserts 15a are secured in a blank mold 20 having. a molding cavity of substantially the same cross-sectional dimensions' but of a greater overall diameter, theinserts have the relation with the mold illustrated'in Figure 3. VIt will beseen thatthe number of inserts whichV willfhave to be employed isL greater than the number necessitated` inthe mean or average mold shown in Figure 1. 'This means thatthe curvature or radiusL offthefinserts will be'sharper than the curvature of themachined cavity in blank mold 20, as seen inthe drawings Fig. 3.

. There will accordingly be a'very small space 21 leftV between the outer or circumferential sides of the ends of the individual inserts and the circular shoulder forming the outer boundary ofI the recess in the blank mold 20. In Fig. 3 this space 21 has been accentuated so as to be visible in the drawings. However, in actual practice the space is so small as to be disregarded and it causes no imperfections in the molded article because thesame is not in the molding cavity. There will also be a slight gap 22 between` the central inner portion of the inserts 15a andthe inner shoulder of the recess formed in the blank mold 20, which space has also been exaggerated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.v A very slight space 31, which has been exaggerated on the drawings will occur/between the ends/of the individual inserts. These slight gapsv and spaces are so small that they may ordinarily be ignored without noticeable elect on the molded article. Asr a matter of fact in use they soon fill up with soapstone or mold lubricant to present a smooth molding surface.

' Although it is the purpose of the invention to avoid expense and labor in preparing related molds using identical inserts, it will be understood that in certain instances, for example where there is considerable change in dimensions between the average mold and the related molds, it may be necessary or desirable to machine the ends and the inner circumferential portions of the inserts to assist in obtaining a better fit between the inserts and the blank mold. In this connection it is to be noted that the ends of the inserts are ordinarily machined in all cases even for the average or mean blank mold.

' The inserts 15a are held in the blank mold 20 by means similar to those employed in conjunction with the average or mean mold illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and described above. The inserts and blank mold 20` are finished and polished in the usual manner as is well known in the case of ordinary insert type molds.`

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, which illustrates a third of the related mold series, the numeral 15b`indicates the standard size inserts which are employed in conjunction witha blank mold 25 which has a molding cavity of smaller diameter than'that of the mean or average blank moldillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.A The inserts 15b t down into thev appropriately recessed cavity formed in'the'blank mold 25 in the'manner illus trated lin Fig.4. The inserts 15b are held in the blank mold 25 in any suitable manner, such as for example that described above in conjunction with Figs. l and 2. j y

It will be seen that the curvature'ior radius of the insert 15b is greater than the curvature or 'radius of the recess portion in the blank mold 25 so that the outer sides of the ends of the inserts contactwith the outer circumferential shoulder f ormingthe recess in the blank mold 25, so as to leave a slight space centrally of the inserts which has been indicated by the numeral 28. This space is exaggerated in the drawings but in actual practice Ydoes not affect the molded article `because' it is not in the molding cavity. It will also be noticed that the inside portions of the inserts-15b contact'with the inner shoulder of the recess in the blank mold 25 at central positions and that therefore spaces, indicated at 30, are formed in the mold. These spaces do not cause molding diflculties where the related size of the blank" mold 25 and that'selected as the mean or average diameter mold do'not vary tooA greatly, In addition they ll up in use asvstated above v'with respect to the mold. shown in Fig. 3.` However, where the change in dimensions between the related molds is considerable, it is the best practiceto machine the inner curvature of the inserts sothat vthey more nearly coincide with the particular blank mold. Thus the spaces 30 will be obliterated as will any molding diiculties engenderedthereby.

It is also to be noted that there will be slight spaces 32', which are exaggerated on the drawings, formed between the ends or sides of the inserts where they Ycontact one another. Howeverjthese spaces are not ordinarily of such size as to cause markings upon the molded article. Itis,'however, contemplated, as stated 'above with respect to Fig. 3, to machine the inserts to renderfthe various spaces'less noticeable or to completely obliter' ate the same. The ends of the inserts are ordinarily machined in all related mold sizes to insure a better circumferential fit thereof.`

Thev inserts l5, 15a and 15b are of suliicient'size and thickness to insure that there will be no bowing or bulging of the same in the blank molds 20 and 25 where the inserts are not completely supported.

\ While the invention has been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings as comprising a related 'set of three molds,'namely the mean or average diameter moldythe mold slightly larger than the average cr mean diameter mold, and the mold slightly smaller than the' average mold, it will be evident that the invention contemplates making any number of related molds as long `as the diilerence in dimensions from the mean or average mold is not too great which would destroy the feasibility of the present invention.` In this connection it will Vbe understood that the change in mold sizes used in the tire industry will'be dependent upon 'and controlled by the changein standard rim diameters and tiresizes.

The inserts are ordinarily made up in comparatively short lengths 'so that a relatively large number of the inserts must be employed in each insert type mold. The greater the number of inserts the more truly circular will be' the molded article formed in the related molds. This is becauserthe molded article formed in the related molds (other than the average diameter mold will not bea perfect circle, but will actually be formedv in a polygonal shape in which' the number of arcuate sides will comprise' the number of inserts employed in the mold. Suiiice -it to say that the number of inserts should be kept comparatively high if the related molds are to produce articles in which the slight out of roundness is not to be noticed. It has been found, however, that in actual practice the slight imperfections created by molding the articles in related molds produced in accordance with the present invention has not been noticeable and that the articles produced, such as tires, will function in the usual manner without possessing characteristics which are undesirable.

While the invention has been described as being employed in conjunction with blank molds having cavities in which the cross-sectional diameters are kept constant with changes in the overall diameters, it will be understood that slight variations in cross-sectional diameters can also be made, as well as variations in the overall and bead diameters, and that the principles of the present invention can be employed to produce related molds of these and other varying characteristics.

In the ordinary practice of the invention the inserts are made up so that the design is repeated one or more times or pitches thereon. Thus the related molds and the inserts can be of such comparative size that one or more complete inserts or pitches thereof are removed from or added to the number of inserts employed in the molds of mean or average diameter when making related molds of smaller or larger sizes. Thus any necessity of splitting one insert into any proportionate part greater or less than one pitch is eliminated. 'I'he operation of building the related sized molds is thereby facilitated, as is the matching up of the inserts in they different sized molds.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an improved process has been provided for producing annular molds of related sizes which process is particularly adapted for the tire industry. It is possible to produce molds of slightly different sizes by a comparatively inexpensive operation which fulfills a long felt want in the industry.

While the invention has been particularly described in conjunction with tire molds it will be appreciated that the features thereof are applicable to the production of molds for any articles in which related sizesare required. It will also be appreciated that the principles of the invention can be employed in the construction of any circula-r or arcuate molds of the insert type and that, moreover, the invention broadly contemplates the production of molds of all characters.

In accordance with the patent statutes one form of applicants invention has been particularly described and illustrated. However, this is to be taken as an example and not a limitation in that the scope of the present invention is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A related series of molds comprising a plurality of blank molds of different dimensions including a blank mold of mean or average dimensions, mold facing inserts of a standard size in th'e average size mold and adapted to fit therein, and inserts of the same standard size inthe other blank molds, the number of inserts being greater in the blank molds larger than the average blank mold, and the number being smaller in the blank molds of lesser dimensions than the average blank mold.

2. A related series of rality of blank molds of molds comprising a pludifferent dimensions in- 3 cluding a blank mold of mean or average dimensions, mold facing inserts of a standard size in the average size mold and adapted to t therein, and inserts of the same standard size in the other blank molds.

3. A series of molds for tires of the same crosssectional dimensions but of different overall diameters including a plurality of blank molds having cavities of the same cross-sectional dimensions but of different diameters, standard size inserts adapted to fit into the cavity of a blank mold of mean or average size, said inserts having the same radius of curvature both circumferentially and transversely as the average blank molds, and inserts of substantially the same standard size secured in the cavities of the blank molds smaller and larger than the average blank whereby a series of insert type molds of related sizes is produced.

4. A series of molds for tires of different bead diameters including a plurality of blank molds having cavities of different diameters, inserts adapted to t into the cavity of a blank mold of mean or average size, said inserts having the same radius of curvature both circumferentially and transversely as the average blank mold, and inserts of the same circumferential and transverse curvature secured in the cavities of the blank molds smaller and larger than the average blank whereby a series of insert type molds of related sizes is produced. Y

5. A series of molds for annular articles oi' different overall diameters including a plurality of blank molds having cavities of different diameters, standard size inserts adapted to fit into the cavity of a blank mold of mean or average size, said inserts having the same radius of curvature, both circumferentially and transversely as the average blank mold, and inserts of the same standard size secured in the cavities of the blank molds smaller and larger than the average blank mold.

6. Related tire molds of the insert type comprising blank molds of different molding dimensions, and a plurality of die cast inserts secured in said molds, said inserts being of substantially the same dimensions.

7. The method of making a related series of tire molds comprising forming blank molds having cavities of different sizes, die casting a plurality of facing inserts of a common size, providing recesses in the molding cavities of the various sized molds, and securing the same sized inserts in the recesses of the molding cavities of all the molds.

8. The method of making a related series of tire molds comprising forming blank molds having cavities of different sizes, selecting a mold of mean or average size, die casting a plurality of facing inserts of a common size adapted to t in the blank mold selected as the mean, providing recesses in the molding cavities of the various sized molds, and securing the same sized inserts in the recesses of the molding cavities of all the molds.

9. The method of making a related series of annular molds comprising forming blank molds having cavities of different sizes, selecting a mold of mean or average size, die casting a plurality of facing inserts in the blank mold selected as the mean, and securing the same sized inserts in the molding cavities of all the molds.

JOHN C. TU'ITLE of a common size adapted to t. 

